Longford man who drove under influence of cannabis put off road for one year and fined

A defendant who pleaded guilty to driving under the influence of cannabis was disqualified from driving for one years at Longford District Court.
Michael Edward Purcell (52) of 78 MacEoin Park, Longford was before the court charged with motoring offences on three separate days.

Mr Purcell was charged with being an unaccompanied driver on Monday, November 20, 2023 at Ardnacassa Longford, driving without insurance, failing to produce insurance, driving without a licence and driving while under the influence of cannabis on Tuesday, June 18, 2024 at Earl St, Longford.

A charge from March 20, 2023 at Deanscurragh Longford when Mr Purcell was accused of driving with a quantity of cannabis in his system above the legal limit was struck out before the case commenced.
Sergeant Mark Mahon told Judge Bernadette Owens that the June offence came to Garda attention when officer on patrol observed a car failing to indicate as it pulled out into traffic on Earl Street in Longford town.

The Gardaí pulled over the driver, Mr Purcell. The defendant was extremely nervous and his eyes were dilated.
A subsequent blood test indicated the presence of cannabis in Mr Purcell's system. A pulse search showed the defendant should have been serving a disqualification for the accumulation of penalty points.

The court was told Mr Purcell had seven previous convictions, with one for careless driving.
Solicitor Brid Mimnagh said her client had not realised he was serving a penalty point ban at the time, she maintained he paid his insurance and believed he was covered. Ms Mimnagh said the defendant never received a letter to show he was disqualified.

The solicitor told the court Mr Purcell's wife died in September of last year following six years of cancer treatment. “He has been trying to do everything on his own,” Ms Mimnagh said of the father of two school going children.
The legal representative explained that her client's wife had been using cannabis oil during her cancer treatment and Mr Purcell believed he absorbed the drug into his body as he massaged his wife.
“Nonetheless he accepts his fate,” Ms Mimnagh said.

Having considered the facts of the case Judge Owens registered a conviction and imposed a fine of €300 with nine month to pay for the drug driving and disqualified Mr Purcell for one year. A further fine of €250 was imposed for the no insurance charge, with 11 month to pay. All other matters were taken into consideration.

Read next: https://www.longfordleader.ie/news/national-news/1770039/outrageous-gardai-seize-car-as-driver-has-cancelled-insurance-but-there-s-more.html